EFFECT OF PELLETING AND FEEDING LEVEL ON APPARENT DIGESTIBILITY AND FEEDING VALUE OF DIETS FOR GROWING-FINISHING PIGS

Five diets were used to determine the apparent overall digestibility o f the organic nutrients of the Weende analysis and feeding value, in p igs from 3 5 to 100 kg liveweight, using total faecal collection. The five diets were considerably different in feedstuff composition: two c ereal-based diets (Diets A and C), two by-product-based diets (Diets B and D) and one diet based mainly on legume seeds and tapioca (Diet E) . The five diets, ground as well as steam pelleted at about 80-degrees -C, were investigated at two feeding levels: 2.3 M and 2.8 M (M=293 kJ NE(f) (net energy for fattening) kg-0.75). Pelleting had no influence on the proximate analysis of the diet, but in general increased the d igestibility of nutrients. The effect differed between diets and nutri ent components, being strongest for Diet E and for crude fat. In gener al, increasing the feeding level had a negative effect on digestibilit y and feeding value. Again, the effect differed between diets and nutr ients, being most pronounced for Diets A and B and for crude protein.